All the Way (Romancing Manhattan #1)(17)

It’s the sexiest kiss I’ve ever experienced.

When he pulls away, he cups my ass in his hands and smiles down at me. “You have a great ass.”

“So do you.”

“You noticed?”

“Of course I noticed.”

He chuckles and sets me back on the stool.

“I’m starving,” he says, returning to the stove to stir the gravy. “And we should have breakfast too, since you went to all of this trouble.”

“I have to leave in thirty minutes,” I inform him, checking the time.

“Oh? Where to?”

“PT.” I load my plate and sit at the table. It’s going to be a bitch today, given that I’m already achy. But I refuse to miss any more appointments.

“I have plans with Mom and Gabby this afternoon,” he says with a frown.

“That’s okay, I have plans too.”

He cocks a brow.

“Hey, I have stuff to do. I don’t just sit around here and hope to feel better while I pine away for you.”

Rather than apologize, he laughs. “I know that. Although, a little pining might be nice. Okay, tomorrow evening I’d like to have you to myself.”

“I can swing that. I’m giving Gabby a lesson tomorrow afternoon. She’s excited.”

“She’s been talking about it for two days,” he says with a nod. “Unfortunately, it’ll be your first and last lesson because Mom is taking her with her when she leaves tomorrow evening.”

“Oh? Gabby doesn’t want to stay here anymore?”

“She would rather go to Hawaii with Mom, where she doesn’t have to take karate and learn how to ride a horse.”

I nod. “I get it. She’ll have fun with her grandmother.”

“She’ll get even more spoiled than she already is.”

“That’s what grandparents do,” I remind him, and feel a moment of sadness that my parents won’t get to know the joy of being grandparents. They would have been awesome at it.

“What is it?” he asks, but I just shake my head and take a bite of my biscuit. “Will you miss her?”

“Gabby?”

I nod.

“I’ll see her back in New York before too long. And no, I won’t miss dealing with a hormonal little girl every day.”

I laugh and then just smile at him. “You didn’t do too bad. How long are you planning to stay before you have to return to New York?”

He frowns, and takes a moment before answering.

“I was supposed to go back the day after tomorrow.”

“Oh.” I nod, not sure why I’m sad at that. Okay, I know why. We’re finally going to have a chance to be alone, and he has to leave. It sucks, big-time.

“But I’m not going to.”

My head turns quickly in his direction. “You’re not?”

“No, I’m going to stay for a while longer.” He leans against the counter and pins me in his dark eyes. “I want more time with you.”

“What about work?”

He rubs his hand over his face. “It’ll have to wait for me.”

“Finn, you shouldn’t put your work at risk.”

“It’ll wait for me,” he repeats. “Now, let’s eat.”



“I’m so sad that I only got to sing with you once,” Gabby says the next afternoon after we’ve had an hour-long lesson.

“But you get to go to Hawaii,” I say, and give the little girl a hug. “You’ll have too much fun to worry about voice lessons.”

“Maybe,” she replies. “Thank you for today.”

“You’re welcome. You have a beautiful voice, Gabby. If you keep working on it, you’ll be able to do really wonderful things someday.”

Her smile is beaming as she walks toward my back door.

“You have to come home with me,” she informs me.

“Why?”

“Because you do.”

I narrow my eyes. “Why?”

“Because you’re supposed to have dinner with Uncle Finn.”

“Yes, I’m coming over in a little while. It’s only five.”

“Will you just trust me?” She rolls her eyes and takes my hand. “Why don’t adults just do as they’re told?”

I snort out a laugh as she pulls me out the door and down the shortcut path to Finn’s house. She’s careful not to go too fast so I can keep up with her.

“I think many adults would ask the same question about kids.”

“You’re going to like this,” she promises, and leads me up the deck to the back door and walks inside. There doesn’t seem to be anyone home, as the house is quiet, until we get to the living area.

Suitcases are packed and sitting by the front door, and a salt-and-pepper-haired woman is standing with Finn in the living room, fussing over a bouquet of flowers.

“We’re here,” Gabby announces, and they both turn to look at us.

“Hi. I don’t know why I’m here, but Gabby insisted I come with her.”

Finn smiles at me and immediately crosses to me to kiss my cheek and thread his fingers through mine.

“This is great, I can introduce you to my mom before she and Gabby take off.”